COVINGTON -- The Newton County Board of Education got some assistance from a few eager little helpers this week.

Continuing the annual tradition, students from Ficquett Elementary School walked down to the neighboring BOE building Tuesday morning to help decorate the Christmas tree in the school board lobby.

"Thank you so much. We appreciate it," Newton County School System Superintendent Steven Whatley said to the students. "I hope y'all have a good holiday, but keep working until the very end."

As always, each elementary school submitted handmade holiday decorations to the school board office to hang on the tree. This year, students made clay angels and candy canes, paper gingerbread men, stars and other holiday ornaments.

"We are very proud of the work they have done," said Sherri Viniard, director of public relations at NCSS. "We like to have students help because this tree represents the school system, so it's only natural to have the students here."

This year, nine students from various grade levels at Ficquett hung those colorful ornaments on the middle and lower branches of the 12-foot tree.

"It was fun because we got to help the board office people," said fifth-grader Taylor Baggett after she finished decorating the tree. "We hope they see we enjoy Christmas and decorating."

Other school system employees will help hang remaining ornaments from this year and years past on the higher branches that the students couldn't reach.

The decorated tree will remain up in the BOE lobby until winter holidays, which start Dec. 21, and school officials hope the students' parents and other citizens stop by to check it out.

"This is a way for us to show their work to the community," Viniard said. "It looks really good."